Subject-Verb Agreement

At a glance 9 rules

1. 1Find the true subjectStrike out 'of' phrases and who/that clauses between the subject and the verb, then match the verb to the head noun: 'The box of pens is on the desk'.
2. 2Add-ons do not count'Along with', 'as well as', 'together with' and 'in addition to' do not change the subject: 'The coach, along with his players, was late'.
3. 3Subject after the verbIn 'there is/are', 'here comes' and inverted sentences, the subject follows the verb, so look ahead: 'There are two buses', 'On the wall hang three clocks'.
4. 4'And' makes it pluralTwo subjects joined by 'and' take a plural verb: 'Riya and Sam are late'. If both words name one thing or person ('bread and butter'), it is singular.
5. 5Or, nor: nearer subjectWith 'or', 'either ... or' and 'neither ... nor', the verb agrees with the subject nearer to it: 'Either the teacher or the students have the key'.
6. 6Each, every, many aEach, every, either, neither, many a and 'one of the' + plural noun take a singular verb: 'Each of the boys has a bat', 'Many a student has tried'.
7. 7A number, the number'A number of' means 'many' and takes a plural verb; 'the number of' is one figure and takes a singular verb: 'The number of seats is fixed'.
8. 8Fractions and percentagesWith fractions, percentages, some, all, most or none + 'of', the noun after 'of' decides: 'Half of the cake is gone', 'Half of the guests are here'.
9. 9One mass, one amountUncountables (information, advice, furniture, news), subjects like physics, and a sum or distance taken as one amount are singular: 'Ten km is a long walk'.